DIAGNOSIS ASSISTANCE DEVICE, OPERATION METHOD FOR DIAGNOSIS ASSISTANCE DEVICE, OPERATION PROGRAM FOR DIAGNOSIS ASSISTANCE DEVICE, AND DEMENTIA DIAGNOSIS ASSISTANCE DEVICE

Abstract

 There is provided a diagnosis support device including: a processor; and a memory connected to or built in the processor, in which the processor is configured to: acquire a medical image; extract a plurality of anatomical regions of an organ from the medical image; input images of the plurality of anatomical regions to a plurality of feature amount derivation models prepared for each of the plurality of anatomical regions and output a plurality of feature amounts for each of the plurality of anatomical regions from the feature amount derivation models; input the plurality of feature amounts which are output for each of the plurality of anatomical regions to a disease opinion derivation model and output a disease opinion from the disease opinion derivation model; derive a first contribution which represents a degree of contribution to output of the opinion for each of the anatomical regions; and present the opinion and a derivation result of the first contribution for each of the anatomical regions.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] A technique of the present disclosure relates to a diagnosis support device, an operation method of a diagnosis support device, an operation program of a diagnosis support device, and a dementia diagnosis support method.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0002] In diagnosis of a disease, for example, dementia represented by Alzheimer's disease, a doctor refers to a medical image such as a head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) image. The doctor obtains a dementia opinion by observing, for example, a degree of atrophy of a hippocampus, a parahippocampal gyrus, an amygdala, and the like, a degree of a vascular disorder of a white matter, the presence or absence of a decrease in blood flow metabolism in a frontal lobe, a temporal lobe, and an occipital lobe.

[0003] JP6483890B describes a diagnosis support device that derives a dementia opinion on a head MRI image by a machine learning model and provides the dementia opinion to a doctor. The diagnosis support device described in JP6483890B extracts a plurality of anatomical regions according to a Brodmann's brain map or the like from the head MRI image, and calculates a Z value indicating a degree of atrophy of each of the anatomical regions. In addition, the calculated Z value of each of the anatomical regions is input to a machine learning model, and a dementia opinion is output from the machine learning model.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] As described above, in order to obtain an opinion of a disease such as dementia, it is necessary to thoroughly examine each of anatomical regions of an organ such as a brain from various viewpoints. However, in JP6483890B, only one index value such as the Z value which is statistically obtained is used. For this reason, there is a limit to prediction accuracy of a disease opinion that is obtained with only such limited information.

[0005] In addition, even though a disease opinion with high prediction accuracy is obtained, in a case where the doctor does not recognize a degree of contribution of each of the anatomical regions to output of the opinion, the doctor cannot determine a plausibility of the opinion.

[0006] In one embodiment according to the technique of the present disclosure, there are provided a diagnosis support device, an operation method of a diagnosis support device, an operation program of a diagnosis support device, and a dementia diagnosis support method capable of obtaining a more accurate disease opinion and recognizing a degree of contribution of each of anatomical regions of an organ to output of the opinion.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, there is provided a diagnosis support device including: a processor; and a memory connected to or built in the processor, in which the processor is configured to: acquire a medical image; extract a plurality of anatomical regions of an organ from the medical image; input images of the plurality of anatomical regions to a plurality of feature amount derivation models prepared for each of the plurality of anatomical regions and output a plurality of feature amounts for each of the plurality of anatomical regions from the feature amount derivation models; input the plurality of feature amounts which are output for each of the plurality of anatomical regions to a disease opinion derivation model and output a disease opinion from the disease opinion derivation model; derive a first contribution which represents a degree of contribution to output of the opinion for each of the anatomical regions; and present the opinion and a derivation result of the first contribution for each of the anatomical regions.

[0008] Preferably, the processor is configured to: present the derivation result in descending order of the first contribution.

[0009] Preferably, the processor is configured to: input disease-related information related to the disease to the disease opinion derivation model in addition to the plurality of feature amounts.

[0010] Preferably, the disease-related information includes a plurality of items, and the processor is configured to: derive a second contribution which represents a degree of contribution to output of the opinion for each of the items; and present a derivation result of the second contribution for each of the items.

[0011] Preferably, the feature amount derivation model includes at least one of an auto-encoder, a single-task convolutional neural network for class determination, or a multi-task convolutional neural network for class determination.

[0012] Preferably, the processor is configured to: input an image of one anatomical region of the anatomical regions to the plurality of different feature amount derivation models, and output the feature amounts from each of the plurality of feature amount derivation models.

[0013] Preferably, the disease opinion derivation model is configured by any one method of a neural network, a support vector machine, or boosting.

[0014] Preferably, the processor is configured to: perform normalization processing of matching the acquired medical image with a reference medical image prior to extraction of the anatomical regions.

[0015] Preferably, the organ is a brain and the disease is dementia. In this case, preferably, the plurality of anatomical regions include at least one of a hippocampus or a temporal lobe. Further, preferably, the disease-related information includes at least one of a volume of the anatomical region, a score of a dementia test, a test result of a genetic test, a test result of a spinal fluid test, or a test result of a blood test.

[0016] According to the present disclosure, there is provided an operation method of a diagnosis support device, the method including: acquiring a medical image; extracting a plurality of anatomical regions of an organ from the medical image; inputting images of the plurality of anatomical regions to a plurality of feature amount derivation models prepared for each of the plurality of anatomical regions, and outputting a plurality of feature amounts for each of the plurality of anatomical regions from the feature amount derivation models; inputting the plurality of feature amounts which are output for each of the plurality of anatomical regions to a disease opinion derivation model, and outputting a disease opinion from the disease opinion derivation model; deriving a first contribution which represents a degree of contribution to output of the opinion for each of the anatomical regions; and presenting the opinion and a derivation result of the first contribution for each of the anatomical regions.

[0017] According to the present disclosure, there is provided an operation program of a diagnosis support device, the program causing a computer to execute a process including: acquiring a medical image; extracting a plurality of anatomical regions of an organ from the medical image; inputting images of the plurality of anatomical regions to a plurality of feature amount derivation models prepared for each of the plurality of anatomical regions, and outputting a plurality of feature amounts for each of the plurality of anatomical regions from the feature amount derivation models; inputting the plurality of feature amounts which are output for each of the plurality of anatomical regions to a disease opinion derivation model, and outputting a disease opinion from the disease opinion derivation model; deriving a first contribution which represents a degree of contribution to output of the opinion for each of the anatomical regions; and presenting the opinion and a derivation result of the first contribution for each of the anatomical regions.

[0018] According to the present disclosure, there is provided a dementia diagnosis support method causing a computer that includes a processor and a memory connected to or built in the processor to execute a process including: acquiring a medical image in which a brain appears; extracting a plurality of anatomical regions of the brain from the medical image; inputting images of the plurality of anatomical regions to a plurality of feature amount derivation models prepared for each of the plurality of anatomical regions, and outputting a plurality of feature amounts for each of the plurality of anatomical regions from the feature amount derivation models; inputting the plurality of feature amounts which are output for each of the plurality of anatomical regions to a dementia opinion derivation model, and outputting a dementia opinion from the dementia opinion derivation model; deriving a first contribution which represents a degree of contribution to output of the opinion for each of the anatomical regions; and presenting the opinion and a derivation result of the first contribution for each of the anatomical regions.

[0019] According to the technique of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a diagnosis support device, an operation method of a diagnosis support device, an operation program of a diagnosis support device, and a dementia diagnosis support method capable of obtaining a more accurate disease opinion and recognizing a degree of contribution of each of anatomical regions of an organ to output of the opinion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] 

Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a medical system including a diagnosis support device.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a computer including the diagnosis support device.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a processing unit of a CPU of the diagnosis support device.

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating processing of a normalization unit.

Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating processing of an extraction unit.

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating processing of a feature amount derivation unit.

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating processing of a dementia opinion derivation unit.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating first contribution information.

Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating a first display screen.

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating a second display screen.

Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating a third display screen.

Fig. 12 is a diagram illustrating switching of display of the first contribution information.

Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an auto-encoder and a structure of a feature amount derivation model.

Fig. 14 is a diagram explaining convolution processing.

Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of operation data.

Fig. 16 is a diagram explaining pooling processing.

Fig. 17 is a diagram illustrating an outline of processing in a learning phase of the auto-encoder.

Fig. 18 is a diagram illustrating an outline of processing in a learning phase of a dementia opinion derivation model.

Fig. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the diagnosis support device.

Fig. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the diagnosis support device.

Fig. 21 is a diagram illustrating another example of dementia opinion information.

Fig. 22 is a diagram illustrating still another example of dementia opinion information.

Fig. 23 is a diagram illustrating processing of a dementia opinion derivation unit according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 24 is a diagram illustrating an outline of processing in a learning phase of a dementia opinion derivation model according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 25 is a diagram illustrating processing of a contribution derivation unit and second contribution information according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 26 is a diagram illustrating a third display screen according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 27 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a single-task convolutional neural network for class determination and a structure of a feature amount derivation model.

Fig. 28 is a diagram illustrating an outline of processing in a learning phase of a single-task convolutional neural network for class determination.

Fig. 29 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a multi-task convolutional neural network for class determination and a structure of a feature amount derivation model.

Fig. 30 is a diagram illustrating an outline of processing in a learning phase of a multi-task convolutional neural network for class determination.

Fig. 31 is a diagram illustrating processing of a feature amount derivation unit according to a fifth embodiment.

Fig. 32 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an auto-encoder, a configuration of a single-task convolutional neural network for class determination, and a structure of a feature amount derivation model.

Fig. 33 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of an output unit.

Fig. 34 is a diagram illustrating an outline of processing in a learning phase of the auto-encoder and the single-task convolutional neural network for class determination.

Fig. 35 is a graph illustrating a change of a weight given to a loss of the auto encoder.

Fig. 36 is a diagram illustrating processing of a dementia opinion derivation unit according to a sixth embodiment.

Fig. 37 is a table showing a performance comparison between a method of predicting progress of dementia that is described in literatures in the related art and a method of predicting progress of dementia according to the sixth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[First Embodiment]

[0021] As illustrated in Fig. 1 as an example, a medical system 2 includes an MRI apparatus 10, a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) server 11, and a diagnosis support device 12. The MRI apparatus 10, the PACS server 11, and the diagnosis support device 12 are connected to a local area network (LAN) 13 provided in a medical facility, and can communicate with each other via the LAN 13.

[0022] The MRI apparatus 10 images a head of a patient P and outputs a head MRI image 15. The head MRI image 15 is voxel data representing a three-dimensional shape of the head of the patient P. In Fig. 1, a head MRI image 15S having a sagittal cross section is illustrated. The MRI apparatus 10 transmits the head MRI image 15 to the PACS server 11. The PACS server 11 stores and manages the head MRI image 15 from the MRI apparatus 10. The head MRI image 15 is an example of a "medical image" according to the technique of the present disclosure.

[0023] The diagnosis support device 12 is, for example, a desktop personal computer, and includes a display 17 and an input device 18. The input device 18 is a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, a microphone, or the like. The doctor transmits a distribution request of the head MRI image 15 of the patient P to the PACS server 11 by operating the input device 18. The PACS server 11 searches for the head MRI image 15 of the patient P that is requested to be distributed, and distributes the head MRI image 15 to the diagnosis support device 12. The diagnosis support device 12 displays the head MRI image 15 distributed from the PACS server 11 on the display 17. The doctor diagnoses dementia on the patient P by observing a brain of the patient P appearing in the head MRI image 15. The brain is an example of an "organ" according to the technique of the present disclosure, and the dementia is an example of a "disease" according to the technique of the present disclosure. Further, in Fig. 1, only one MRI apparatus 10 and one diagnosis support device 12 are illustrated. On the other hand, a plurality of MRI apparatuses 10 and a plurality of diagnosis support devices 12 may be provided.

[0024] As illustrated in Fig. 2 as an example, a computer including the diagnosis support device 12 includes a storage 20, a memory 21, a central processing unit (CPU) 22, and a communication unit 23, in addition to the display 17 and the input device 18. The components are connected to each other via a bus line 24. The CPU 22 is an example of a "processor" according to the technique of the present disclosure.

[0025] The storage 20 is a hard disk drive that is built in the computer including the diagnosis support device 12 or is connected via a cable or a network. Alternatively, the storage 20 is a disk array in which a plurality of hard disk drives are connected in series. The storage 20 stores a control program such as an operating system, various application programs, and various data associated with the programs. A solid state drive may be used instead of the hard disk drive.

[0026] The memory 21 is a work memory which is necessary to execute processing by the CPU 22. The CPU 22 loads the program stored in the storage 20 into the memory 21, and executes processing according to the program. Thereby, the CPU 22 collectively controls each unit of the computer. The communication unit 23 controls transmission of various types of information to an external device such as the PACS server 11. The memory 21 may be built in the CPU 22.

[0027] As illustrated in Fig. 3 as an example, an operation program 30 is stored in the storage 20 of the diagnosis support device 12. The operation program 30 is an application program for causing the computer to function as the diagnosis support device 12. That is, the operation program 30 is an example of "the operation program of the diagnosis support device" according to the technique of the present disclosure. The storage 20 also stores the head MRI image 15, a reference head MRI image 35, a segmentation model 36, a feature amount derivation model group 38 including a plurality of feature amount derivation models 37, and a dementia opinion derivation model 39.

[0028] In a case where the operation program 30 is started, the CPU 22 of the computer including the diagnosis support device 12 functions as a read/write (hereinafter, abbreviated as RW) control unit 45, a normalization unit 46, an extraction unit 47, a feature amount derivation unit 48, a dementia opinion derivation unit 49, a contribution derivation unit 50, and a display control unit 51, in cooperation with the memory 21 and the like.

[0029] The RW control unit 45 controls storing of various types of data in the storage 20 and reading of various types of data in the storage 20. For example, the RW control unit 45 receives the head MRI image 15 from the PACS server 11, and stores the received head MRI image 15 in the storage 20. In Fig. 3, only one head MRI image 15 is stored in the storage 20. On the other hand, a plurality of head MRI images 15 may be stored in the storage 20.

[0030] The RW control unit 45 reads the head MRI image 15 of the patient P designated by the doctor for diagnosing dementia from the storage 20, and outputs the read head MRI image 15 to the normalization unit 46 and the display control unit 51. The RW control unit 45 acquires the head MRI image 15 by reading the head MRI image 15 from the storage 20.

[0031] In addition, the RW control unit 45 reads the reference head MRI image 35 from the storage 20, and outputs the read reference head MRI image 35 to the normalization unit 46. The RW control unit 45 reads the segmentation model 36 from the storage 20, and outputs the read segmentation model 36 to the extraction unit 47. The RW control unit 45 reads the feature amount derivation model group 38 from the storage 20, and outputs the read feature amount derivation model group 38 to the feature amount derivation unit 48. Further, the RW control unit 45 reads the dementia opinion derivation model 39 from the storage 20, and outputs the read dementia opinion derivation model 39 to the dementia opinion derivation unit 49.

[0032] The normalization unit 46 performs normalization processing of matching the head MRI image 15 with the reference head MRI image 35, and sets the head MRI image 15 as a normalized head MRI image 55. The normalization unit 46 outputs the normalized head MRI image 55 to the extraction unit 47.

[0033] The reference head MRI image 35 is a head MRI image in which a brain having a reference shape, a reference size, and a reference shade (pixel value) appears. The reference head MRI image 35 is, for example, an image generated by averaging head MRI images 15 of a plurality of healthy persons, or an image generated by computer graphics. The reference head MRI image 35 is an example of a "reference medical image" according to the technique of the present disclosure.

[0034] The extraction unit 47 inputs the normalized head MRI image 55 to the segmentation model 36. The segmentation model 36 is a machine learning model that performs so-called semantic segmentation of assigning a label representing each of anatomical regions of a brain, such as a hippocampus, an amygdala, and a frontal lobe, to each pixel of the brain appearing in the normalized head MRI image 55. The extraction unit 47 extracts images 56 of a plurality of anatomical regions of the brain (hereinafter, referred to as anatomical region images) from the normalized head MRI image 55 based on the labels assigned by the segmentation model 36. The extraction unit 47 outputs an anatomical region image group 57 including the plurality of anatomical region images 56 for each of the plurality of anatomical regions to the feature amount derivation unit 48, the contribution derivation unit 50, and the display control unit 51.

[0035] One feature amount derivation model 37 is prepared for each of the plurality of anatomical regions of the brain (refer to Fig. 6). The feature amount derivation unit 48 inputs the anatomical region images 56 to the corresponding feature amount derivation models 37. In addition, a feature amount set 58 including a plurality of types of feature amounts Z (refer to Fig. 6) is output from the feature amount derivation model 37. The feature amount derivation unit 48 outputs a feature amount set group 59 including a plurality of feature amount sets 58 corresponding to the plurality of anatomical regions, to the dementia opinion derivation unit 49 and the contribution derivation unit 50.

[0036] The dementia opinion derivation unit 49 inputs the feature amount set group 59 to the dementia opinion derivation model 39. In addition, dementia opinion information 60 representing a dementia opinion is output from the dementia opinion derivation model 39. The dementia opinion derivation unit 49 outputs the dementia opinion information 60 to the contribution derivation unit 50 and the display control unit 51. The dementia opinion derivation model 39 is an example of a "disease opinion derivation model" according to the technique of the present disclosure.

[0037] The contribution derivation unit 50 derives a first contribution, which represents a degree of contribution to output of the dementia opinion information 60, for each of the anatomical regions, based on the anatomical region image group 57 from the extraction unit 47, the feature amount set group 59 from the feature amount derivation unit 48, and the dementia opinion information 60 from the dementia opinion derivation unit 49. For the derivation of the first contribution by the contribution derivation unit 50, for example, a method by gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM)++ described in the following literature is used.
<Daniel Omeiza, etc., Smooth Grad-CAM++: An Enhanced Inference Level Visualization Technique for Deep Convolutional Neural Network Models, arXiv: 1908.01224, Aug 2019.>

[0038] The contribution derivation unit 50 generates first contribution information 61 from the derived first contribution. The first contribution information 61 is an example of a "derivation result of the first contribution" according to the technique of the present disclosure. The contribution derivation unit 50 outputs the first contribution information 61 to the display control unit 51.

[0039] The display control unit 51 controls a display of various screens on the display 17. The various screens include a first display screen 75 (refer to Fig. 9) for instructing analysis by the segmentation model 36, the feature amount derivation model 37, and the dementia opinion derivation model 39, a second display screen 80 (refer to Fig. 10) for displaying the dementia opinion information 60, a third display screen 85 (refer to Fig. 11) for displaying the first contribution information 61, and the like.

[0040] As illustrated in Fig. 4 as an example, the normalization unit 46 performs, as normalization processing, shape normalization processing 65 and shade normalization processing 66 on the head MRI image 15. The shape normalization processing 65 is processing of extracting, for example, landmarks serving as references for registration from the head MRI image 15 and the reference head MRI image 35, and performing parallel displacement, rotation, and/or enlargement/reduction of the head MRI image 15 in accordance with the reference head MRI image 35 such that a correlation between the landmark of the head MRI image 15 and the landmark of the reference head MRI image 35 is maximized. The shade normalization processing 66 is, for example, processing of correcting a shade histogram of the head MRI image 15 in accordance with a shade histogram of the reference head MRI image 35.

[0041] As illustrated in Fig. 5 as an example, the extraction unit 47 extracts, as the anatomical region images 56, the anatomical region image 56_1 of a hippocampus, the anatomical region image 56_2 of a parahippocampal gyrus, the anatomical region image 56_3 of a frontal lobe, the anatomical region image 56_4 of a temporal lobe, the anatomical region image 56_5 of an occipital lobe, the anatomical region image 56_6 of a thalamus, the anatomical region image 56_7 of a hypothalamus, the anatomical region image 56_8 of an amygdala, the anatomical region image 56_9 of a pituitary gland, and the like. In addition to these images, the extraction unit 47 extracts the anatomical region images 56 of the anatomical regions such as mammillary bodies, corpora callosa, fornices, and lateral ventricles. The anatomical regions such as a hippocampus, a frontal lobe, a temporal lobe, and an amygdala come in pairs of a left anatomical region and a right anatomical region. Although not illustrated in the drawings, the anatomical region image 56 of each of the left and right anatomical regions is extracted from the pairs of the left and right anatomical regions. For example, for the hippocampus, the anatomical region image 56_1 of a left hippocampus and the anatomical region image 56_1 of a right hippocampus are extracted. Preferably, the anatomical region includes at least one of a hippocampus or a temporal lobe. More preferably, the anatomical region includes all of a hippocampus and a temporal lobe. The temporal lobe means a front portion of a temporal lobe. For the extraction of the anatomical regions by the extraction unit 47 using the segmentation model 36, for example, a method described in the following literature is used.
<Patrick McClure, etc., Knowing What You Know in Brain Segmentation Using Bayesian Deep Neural Networks, Front. Neuroinform., 17 October 2019.>

[0042] As illustrated in Fig. 6 as an example, the feature amount derivation unit 48 inputs the anatomical region image 56_1 of the hippocampus to the feature amount derivation model 37_1 of the hippocampus, and outputs the feature amount set 58_1 of the hippocampus from the feature amount derivation model 37_1 of the hippocampus. The feature amount set 58_1 of the hippocampus includes a plurality of feature amounts Z1_1, Z2_1, ···, ZN_1. N is the number of feature amounts, and is, for example, several tens to hundreds of thousands.

[0043] Similarly, the feature amount derivation unit 48 inputs the anatomical region image 56_2 of the parahippocampal gyrus to the feature amount derivation model 37_2 of the parahippocampal gyrus, inputs the anatomical region image 56_3 of the frontal lobe to the feature amount derivation model 37_3 of the frontal lobe, and inputs the anatomical region image 56_4 of the temporal lobe to the feature amount derivation model 37_4 of the temporal lobe. In addition, the feature amount set 58_2 of the parahippocampal gyrus is output from the feature amount derivation model 37_2 of the parahippocampal gyrus, the feature amount set 58_3 of the frontal lobe is output from the feature amount derivation model 37_3 of the frontal lobe, and the feature amount set 58_4 of the temporal lobe is output from the feature amount derivation model 37_4 of the temporal lobe. The feature amount set 58_2 of the parahippocampal gyrus includes a plurality of feature amounts Z1_2, Z2_2, ···, ZN_2, the feature amount set 58_3 of the frontal lobe includes a plurality of feature amounts Z1_3, Z2_3, ···, ZN_3, and the feature amount set 58_4 of the temporal lobe includes a plurality of feature amounts Z1_4, Z2_4, ···, ZN_4.

[0044] Further, the feature amount derivation unit 48 inputs the anatomical region image 56_5 of the occipital lobe to the feature amount derivation model 37_5 of the occipital lobe, and inputs the anatomical region image 56_6 of the thalamus to the feature amount derivation model 37_6 of the thalamus. In addition, the feature amount set 58_5 of the occipital lobe is output from the feature amount derivation model 37_5 of the occipital lobe, and the feature amount set 58_6 of the thalamus is output from the feature amount derivation model 37_6 of the thalamus. The feature amount set 58_5 of the occipital lobe includes a plurality of feature amounts Z1_5, Z2_5, ···, ZN_5, and the feature amount set 58_6 of the thalamus includes a plurality of feature amounts Z1_6, Z2_6, ···, ZN_6. In this way, the plurality of anatomical region images 56 are respectively input to the corresponding feature amount derivation models 37. Thereby, the plurality of feature amount sets 58 for each of the anatomical region images 56 are output from the feature amount derivation models 37. The number of the feature amounts Z may be the same in each anatomical region as in a case of N in the example, or may be different in each anatomical region.

[0045] As illustrated in Fig. 7 as an example, the dementia opinion derivation unit 49 inputs the feature amount set group 59 to the dementia opinion derivation model 39. As the dementia opinion information 60, any one of normal control (NC), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer's disease (AD) is output from the dementia opinion derivation model 39.

[0046] As illustrated in Fig. 8 as an example, the first contribution information 61 includes a first contribution map group 71, which includes a plurality of first contribution maps 70 for each of the plurality of anatomical regions, and a ranking table 72. The first contribution maps 70 includes a first contribution map 70_1 of the hippocampus, a first contribution map 70_3 of the frontal lobe, a first contribution map 70_5 of the occipital lobe, and the like. The first contribution map 70 is, so to speak, a heat map of the first contribution, in which colors are assigned to each pixel of the anatomical region image 56 according to a level of the first contribution. Specifically, warm colors such as red and orange are assigned to the pixels having a relatively high first contribution, and cold colors such as purple and blue are assigned to the pixels having a relatively low first contribution.

[0047] The ranking table 72 is a table in which anatomical regions are arranged in descending order of the first contribution. Fig. 8 illustrates a case where the hippocampus corresponds to a first ranking, the parahippocampal gyrus corresponds to a second ranking, the frontal lobe corresponds to a third ranking, the temporal lobe corresponds to a fourth ranking, and so on.

[0048] Fig. 9 illustrates an example of the first display screen 75 for instructing the analysis by the segmentation model 36, the feature amount derivation model 37, and the dementia opinion derivation model 39. The head MRI images 15 of the patient P for diagnosing dementia are displayed on the first display screen 75. The head MRI images 15 include a head MRI image 15S having a sagittal cross section, a head MRI image 15A having an axial cross section, and a head MRI image 15C having a coronal cross section. A button group 76 for switching the display is provided in a lower portion of each of the head MRI images 15S, 15A, and 15C.

[0049] An analysis button 77 is provided on the first display screen 75. The doctor selects the analysis button 77 in a case where he/she wants to perform analysis using the segmentation model 36, the feature amount derivation model 37, and the dementia opinion derivation model 39. In response to the selection, the CPU 22 receives an instruction for analysis by the segmentation model 36, the feature amount derivation model 37, and the dementia opinion derivation model 39.

[0050] Fig. 10 illustrates an example of a second display screen 80 for displaying dementia opinion information 60 obtained as a result of analysis by the segmentation model 36, the feature amount derivation model 37, and the dementia opinion derivation model 39. On the second display screen 80, a message 81 according to the dementia opinion information 60 is displayed. Fig. 10 illustrates an example in which the dementia opinion information 60 is mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and "suspected as mild cognitive impairment" is displayed as the message 81.

[0051] A contribution derivation button 82 is provided on the second display screen 80. The doctor selects the contribution derivation button 82 in a case where he/she wants to know a degree of contribution of each anatomical region to the output of the dementia opinion information 60. In response to the selection, the CPU 22 receives an instruction for deriving the first contribution information 61. In a case where a confirmation button 83 is selected, the display control unit 51 turns off the display of the message 81, and returns the second display screen 80 to the first display screen 75.

[0052] Fig. 11 illustrates an example of a third display screen 85 for displaying the first contribution information 61 output by the contribution derivation unit 50. On the third display screen 85, in addition to the head MRI image 15 and the message 81 according to the dementia opinion information 60, a message 86 indicating the ranking of the first contribution and the anatomical region corresponding to the ranking, the anatomical region image 56, and the first contribution map 70 are displayed. The anatomical region image 56 and the first contribution map 70 are displayed side by side. A button group 87 for switching the display is provided in lower portions of the anatomical region image 56 and the first contribution map 70. In a case where a confirmation button 88 is selected, the display control unit 51 turns off the display of the message 86, the anatomical region image 56, and the first contribution map 70, and returns the third display screen 85 to the second display screen 80.

[0053] As illustrated in Fig. 12 as an example, in a case where the button group 87 is operated, the display control unit 51 switches the display of the message 86, the anatomical region image 56, and the first contribution map 70. The display control unit 51 switches the display of the message 86, the anatomical region image 56, and the first contribution map 70 in descending order of the first contribution. Fig. 12 illustrates an example in which the display is switched according to the ranking table 72 illustrated in Fig. 8. Specifically, the display is sequentially switched in order of the display of the anatomical region image 56_1 and the first contribution map 70_1 of the hippocampus corresponding to the first ranking, the display of the anatomical region image 56_2 and the first contribution map 70_2 of the parahippocampal gyrus corresponding to the second ranking, and the display of the anatomical region image 56_3 and the first contribution map 70_3 of the frontal lobe corresponding to the third ranking.

[0054] As illustrated in Fig. 13 as an example, a compression unit 91 of an auto-encoder (hereinafter, abbreviated as AE) 90 is used in the feature amount derivation model 37. The AE 90 includes a compression unit 91 and a restoration unit 92. The anatomical region image 56 is input to the compression unit 91. The compression unit 91 converts the anatomical region image 56 into the feature amount set 58. The compression unit 91 transmits the feature amount set 58 to the restoration unit 92. The restoration unit 92 generates a restoration image 93 of the anatomical region image 56 from the feature amount set 58.

[0055] The compression unit 91 converts the anatomical region image 56 into the feature amount set 58 by performing a convolution operation as illustrated in Fig. 14 as an example. Specifically, the compression unit 91 includes a convolutional layer 200 represented by "convolution (abbreviated as conv)". The convolutional layer 200 applies, for example, a 3 × 3 filter 203 to the target data 202 including a plurality of elements 201 which are two-dimensionally arranged. In addition, the convolutional layer 200 performs convolution of an element value e of an element of interest 2011, which is one of the elements 201, and element values a, b, c, d, f, g, h, and i of eight elements 201S adjacent to the element of interest 2011. The convolutional layer 200 sequentially performs a convolution operation on each of the elements 201 of the target data 202 while shifting the element of interest 2011 by one element, and outputs element values of elements 204 of operation data 205. Thereby, similarly to the target data 202, the operation data 205 including a plurality of elements 204 which are two-dimensionally arranged is obtained. The target data 202 that is first input to the convolutional layer 200 is the anatomical region image 56, and thereafter, reduction operation data 205S (refer to Fig. 16) to be described later is input to the convolutional layer 200 as the target data 202.

[0056] In a case where it is assumed that coefficients of the filter 203 are r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y, and z, an element value k of an element 204I of the operation data 205 corresponding to the element of interest 2011 is obtained, for example, by calculating the following equation (1), the element value k being a result of the convolution operation on the element of interest 2011.

[0057] One piece of the operation data 205 is output for one filter 203. In a case where a plurality of types of filters 203 are applied to one piece of the target data 202, the operation data 205 is output for each of the filters 203. That is, as illustrated in Fig. 15 as an example, pieces of the operation data 205 are generated for the number of filters 203 applied to the target data 202. In addition, the operation data 205 includes the plurality of elements 204 which are two-dimensionally arranged, and thus the operation data 205 has a width and a height. The number of pieces of the operation data 205 is called the number of channels. Fig. 15 illustrates four channels of pieces of the operation data 205 that are output by applying the four filters 203 to the target data 202.

[0058] As illustrated in Fig. 16 as an example, the compression unit 91 includes a pooling layer 210 represented by "pooling (abbreviated as pool)" in addition to the convolutional layer 200. The pooling layer 210 obtains local statistics of the element values of the elements 204 of the operation data 205, and generates reduction operation data 205S in which the obtained statistics are used as element values. Here, the pooling layer 210 performs maximum value pooling processing of obtaining, as the local statistic, a maximum value of the element values in a 2 × 2 element block 211. By performing the processing while shifting the block 211 by one element in a width direction and a height direction, a size of the reduction operation data 205S is reduced to 1/2 of a size of the original operation data 205. Fig. 16 illustrates a case where the element value b among the element values a, b, e, and f in the block 211A is a maximum value, the element value b among the element values b, c, f, and g in the block 211B is a maximum value, and the element value h among the element values c, d, g, and h in the block 211C is a maximum value. Average value pooling processing of obtaining, as a local statistic, an average value instead of the maximum value may be performed.

[0059] The compression unit 91 outputs final operation data 205 by repeating the convolution processing by the convolutional layer 200 and the pooling processing by the pooling layer 210 a plurality of times. The final operation data 205 is, in other words, the feature amount set 58, and the element value of each element 204 of the final operation data 205 is, in other words, the feature amount Z. The feature amount Z obtained in this way represents a shape of the anatomical region and a feature of a texture, such as a degree of atrophy of the hippocampus, a degree of a vascular disorder of a white matter, and the presence or absence of a decrease in blood flow metabolism in the frontal lobe, the temporal lobe, and the occipital lobe. Here, for the sake of simplicity, the description is given that the processing is performed in a two-dimensional manner. On the other hand, the processing is actually performed in a three-dimensional manner.

[0060] As illustrated in Fig. 17 as an example, the AE 90 is trained by inputting learning anatomical region images 56L in a learning phase before the compression unit 91 is adapted as the feature amount derivation model 37. The AE 90 outputs learning restoration images 93L in response to the learning anatomical region images 56L. Loss calculation of the AE 90 using a loss function is performed based on the learning anatomical region images 56L and the learning restoration images 93L. In addition, update settings of various coefficients of the AE 90 (such as coefficients of the filters 203) are performed according to a result of the loss calculation, and the AE 90 is updated according to the update settings.

[0061] In the learning phase of the AE 90, while exchanging the learning anatomical region images 56L, a series of processing including inputting of the learning anatomical region images 56L to the AE 90, outputting of the learning restoration images 93L from the AE 90, the loss calculation, the update settings, and updating of the AE 90 is repeatedly performed. The repetition of the series of processing is ended in a case where accuracy of restoration from the learning anatomical region images 56L to the learning restoration images 93L reaches a predetermined setting level. The compression unit 91 of the AE 90 of which the restoration accuracy reaches the setting level in this manner is used as the trained feature amount derivation model 37 by being stored in the storage 20.

[0062] In Fig. 18 illustrating an example of an outline of processing in the learning phase of the dementia opinion derivation model 39, the dementia opinion derivation model 39 is configured by using any one method of a neural network, a support vector machine, and boosting. In the learning phase, the dementia opinion derivation model 39 is trained by inputting learning data 100. The learning data 100 is a set of a learning feature amount set group 59L and correct dementia opinion information 60CA corresponding to the learning feature amount set group 59L. The learning feature amount set group 59L is obtained by inputting the anatomical region image 56 of a certain head MRI image 15 to the feature amount derivation model 37. The correct dementia opinion information 60CA is a result obtained by actually diagnosing, by the doctor, the dementia opinion on the head MRI image 15 from which the learning feature amount set group 59L is obtained.

[0063] In the learning phase, the learning feature amount set group 59L is input to the dementia opinion derivation model 39. The dementia opinion derivation model 39 outputs learning dementia opinion information 60L in response to the learning feature amount set group 59L. A loss calculation of the dementia opinion derivation model 39 using a loss function is performed based on the learning dementia opinion information 60L and the correct dementia opinion information 60CA. In addition, update settings of various coefficients of the dementia opinion derivation model 39 are performed according to a result of the loss calculation, and the dementia opinion derivation model 39 is updated according to the update settings.

[0064] In the learning phase of the dementia opinion derivation model 39, while exchanging the learning data 100, a series of processing including inputting of the learning feature amount set group 59L to the dementia opinion derivation model 39, outputting of the learning dementia opinion information 60L from the dementia opinion derivation model 39, the loss calculation, the update settings, and updating of the dementia opinion derivation model 39 is repeatedly performed. The repetition of the series of processing is ended in a case where prediction accuracy of the learning dementia opinion information 60L with respect to the correct dementia opinion information 60CA reaches a predetermined setting level. The dementia opinion derivation model 39 of which the prediction accuracy reaches the setting level in this way is stored in the storage 20, and is used as a trained dementia opinion derivation model in the dementia opinion derivation unit 49.

[0065] Next, an operation according to the configuration will be described with reference to flowcharts illustrated in Fig. 19 and Fig. 20. First, in a case where the operation program 30 is started in the diagnosis support device 12, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the CPU 22 of the diagnosis support device 12 functions as the RW control unit 45, the normalization unit 46, the extraction unit 47, the feature amount derivation unit 48, the dementia opinion derivation unit 49, the contribution derivation unit 50, and the display control unit 51.

[0066] As illustrated in Fig. 19 as an example, in a case where the analysis button 77 is selected on the first display screen 75 illustrated in Fig. 9, the RW control unit 45 reads the corresponding head MRI image 15 and the reference head MRI image 35 from the storage 20 (step ST100). The head MRI image 15 and the reference head MRI image 35 are output from the RW control unit 45 to the normalization unit 46.

[0067] As illustrated in Fig. 4, the normalization unit 46 performs normalization processing (shape normalization processing 65 and shade normalization processing 66) of matching the head MRI image 15 with the reference head MRI image 35 (step ST110). Thereby, the head MRI image 15 is set as a normalized head MRI image 55. The normalized head MRI image 55 is output from the normalization unit 46 to the extraction unit 47.

[0068] As illustrated in Fig. 5, the extraction unit 47 extracts a plurality of anatomical region images 56 from the normalized head MRI image 55 using the segmentation model 36 (step ST120). The anatomical region image group 57 including the plurality of anatomical region images 56 is output from the extraction unit 47 to the feature amount derivation unit 48, the contribution derivation unit 50, and the display control unit 51.

[0069] As illustrated in Fig. 6, the feature amount derivation unit 48 inputs the anatomical region images 56 to the corresponding feature amount derivation models 37. Thereby, the feature amount set 58 is output from the feature amount derivation model 37 (step ST130). The feature amount set group 59 including the plurality of feature amount sets 58 is output from the feature amount derivation unit 48 to the dementia opinion derivation unit 49 and the contribution derivation unit 50.

[0070] As illustrated in Fig. 7, the dementia opinion derivation unit 49 inputs the feature amount set group 59 to the dementia opinion derivation model 39. Thereby, the dementia opinion information 60 is output from the dementia opinion derivation model 39 (step ST140). The dementia opinion information 60 is output from the dementia opinion derivation unit 49 to the contribution derivation unit 50 and the display control unit 51.

[0071] Under a control of the display control unit 51, the second display screen 80 illustrated in Fig. 10 is displayed on the display 17 (step ST150). The doctor confirms the dementia opinion information 60 via the message 81 on the second display screen 80.

[0072] As illustrated in Fig. 20 as an example, in a case where the contribution derivation button 82 is selected on the second display screen 80 and an instruction for deriving the first contribution information 61 is received by the CPU 22 (YES in step ST200), the contribution derivation unit 50 derives a first contribution for each of the anatomical regions based on the anatomical region image group 57, the feature amount set group 59, and the dementia opinion information 60, and generates the first contribution information 61 illustrated in Fig. 8 from the first contribution (step ST210). The first contribution information 61 is output from the contribution derivation unit 50 to the display control unit 51.

[0073] Under a control of the display control unit 51, the third display screen 85 illustrated in Fig. 11 is displayed on the display 17 (step ST220). The doctor confirms the first contribution information 61 via the third display screen 85.

[0074] As described above, the CPU 22 of the diagnosis support device 12 includes the RW control unit 45, the extraction unit 47, the feature amount derivation unit 48, the dementia opinion derivation unit 49, the contribution derivation unit 50, and the display control unit 51. The RW control unit 45 acquires the head MRI image 15 by reading the head MRI image 15 of the patient P for diagnosing dementia from the storage 20. The extraction unit 47 extracts the anatomical region images 56 of the plurality of anatomical regions of the brain from the normalized head MRI image 55. The feature amount derivation unit 48 inputs the plurality of anatomical region images 56 to the plurality of feature amount derivation models 37 prepared for each of the plurality of anatomical regions, and outputs the plurality of feature amount sets 58 for each of the plurality of anatomical regions from the feature amount derivation models 37. The dementia opinion derivation unit 49 inputs the feature amount set group 59 including the plurality of feature amount sets 58 to the dementia opinion derivation model 39, and outputs the dementia opinion information 60 from the dementia opinion derivation model 39. The contribution derivation unit 50 derives the first contribution representing a degree of contribution to output of the dementia opinion information 60 for each of the anatomical regions. The display control unit 51 presents the dementia opinion information 60 and the first contribution information 61 to the doctor on the third display screen 85.

[0075] The number of feature amounts Z is very large, for example, several tens to hundreds of thousands. For this reason, the feature amount Z does not represent a limited feature of the anatomical region as in the Z value described in JP6483890B, but represents a comprehensive feature of the anatomical region. In addition, the feature amount Z is not a single value which is statistically obtained as in the Z value described in JP6483890B, but is obtained by inputting the anatomical region image 56 to the feature amount derivation model 37. Therefore, according to the method of the present disclosure for deriving the dementia opinion information 60 based on the feature amounts Z (the feature amount set group 59 including the plurality of feature amount sets 58), it is possible to improve the prediction accuracy of the dementia opinion as compared with the method described in JP6483890B. Thereby, it is possible to obtain a more accurate dementia opinion.

[0076] In dementia, as compared with other diseases such as cancer, specific lesions that can be recognized with the naked eye are less likely to appear in the image. In addition, dementia has an effect on the entire brain, and is not local. Because of this background, in the related art, it is difficult to obtain an accurate dementia opinion from a medical image such as a head MRI image 15 by using a machine learning model. On the other hand, according to the technique of the present disclosure, the brain is subdivided into the plurality of anatomical regions, feature amounts are derived for each of the plurality of anatomical regions, and the derived feature amounts are input to one dementia opinion derivation model 39. Therefore, it is possible to achieve the object for obtaining a more accurate dementia opinion, as compared with the technique in the related art in which it is difficult to obtain an accurate dementia opinion.

[0077] In addition, the doctor can recognize a degree of contribution of each of the anatomical regions of the brain to the output of the dementia opinion information 60 via the third display screen 85. Thereby, the doctor can determine a plausibility of the dementia opinion information 60.

[0078] A history of the ranking of the first contribution of each of the anatomical regions may be stored, and the history may be reflected in the learning of the dementia opinion derivation model 39. Specifically, the feature amount set 58 of the anatomical region having a relatively low ranking may be excluded from the learning feature amount set group 59L to be input to the dementia opinion derivation model 39.

[0079] As illustrated in Fig. 12, the display control unit 51 presents the derivation results in descending order of the first contribution. The doctor can recognize a degree of contribution of each of the anatomical regions at a glance. A form for presenting the derivation results in descending order of the first contribution is not limited the form illustrated in Fig. 12 in which display is switched between display of the message 86, display of the anatomical region image 56, and display of the first contribution map 70 in response to an operation of the button group 87. The messages 86, the anatomical region images 56, and the first contribution maps 70 for each ranking may be vertically displayed side by side, and the message 86, the anatomical region image 56, and the first contribution map 70 corresponding to a higher ranking may be displayed in an upper portion.

[0080] As illustrated in Fig. 13, the feature amount derivation model 37 is obtained by adapting the compression unit 91 of the AE 90. The AE 90 is one of neural network models which are frequently used in the field of machine learning, and is generally very well known. Therefore, the compression unit 91 of the AE 90 can be relatively easily adapted as the feature amount derivation model 37.

[0081] As illustrated in Fig. 18, the dementia opinion derivation model 39 is configured by any method of a neural network, a support vector machine, and boosting. Any method of a neural network, a support vector machine, and boosting is generally very well known. Therefore, the dementia opinion derivation model 39 can be relatively easily configured.

[0082] As illustrated in Fig. 4, the normalization unit 46 performs normalization processing of matching the head MRI image 15 with the reference head MRI image 35, prior to extraction of the anatomical regions. Therefore, after an individual difference of the patient P and an apparatus difference of the MRI apparatus 10 are substantially eliminated, subsequent processing can be performed. Thereby, it is possible to improve reliability of the dementia opinion information 60.

[0083] The dementia has become a social problem with the advent of an aging society in recent years. Therefore, it can be said that the present embodiment of outputting the dementia opinion information 60 in which a brain is set as an organ and dementia is set as a disease is a form that matches the current social problem.

[0084] The hippocampus and the temporal lobe are anatomical regions that are particularly highly correlated with dementia such as Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, as in the present example, in a case where the plurality of anatomical regions include at least one of the hippocampus or the temporal lobe, it is possible to obtain a more accurate dementia opinion.

[0085] The presentation form of the dementia opinion information 60 and the first contribution information 61 is not limited to the third display screen 85. The dementia opinion information 60 and the first contribution information 61 may be printed out on a paper medium, or the dementia opinion information 60 and the first contribution information 61 may be transmitted to a mobile terminal of the doctor as an attachment file of an e-mail.

[0086] The dementia opinion information is not limited to the content illustrated in Fig. 7 (normal control/mild cognitive impairment/Alzheimer's disease). For example, as in the dementia opinion information 105 illustrated in Fig. 21, the dementia opinion information may indicate whether a degree of progression of dementia of the patient P after one year is fast or slow. Alternatively, as in the dementia opinion information 108 illustrated in Fig. 22, the dementia opinion information may be a type of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy body, or vascular dementia.

[Second Embodiment]

[0087] In the second embodiment illustrated in Fig. 23 to Fig. 26, dementia-related information 111 related to dementia is input to the dementia opinion derivation model 112 in addition to the plurality of feature amounts Z.

[0088] As illustrated in Fig. 23 as an example, the dementia opinion derivation unit 110 according to the present embodiment inputs dementia-related information 111 related to dementia to the dementia opinion derivation model 112 in addition to the feature amount set group 59. In addition, dementia opinion information 113 is output from the dementia opinion derivation model 112. The dementia-related information 111 is an example of "disease-related information" according to the technique of the present disclosure.

[0089] The dementia-related information 111 is information on the patient P for diagnosing dementia. The dementia-related information 111 includes a plurality of items. The items include, for example, a volume of the hippocampus. In addition, the items include, for example, a score of revised Hasegawa's dementia scale (HDS-R), a score of mini-mental state examination (MMSE), a score of a rivermead behavioural memory test (RBMT), clinical dementia rating (CDR), activities of daily living (ADL), Alzheimer's disease assessment scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog), and the like. In addition, the items include a genotype of an ApoE gene, an amyloid-β measurement value, a tau protein measurement value, an apolipoprotein measurement value, a complement protein measurement value, and a transthyretin measurement value. Further, the items include a gender and an age of the patient P and the like. The HDS-R score, the MMSE score, the RBMT score, the CDR, the ADL, the ADAS-Cog, the genotype of the ApoE gene, the amyloid-β measurement value, the tau protein measurement value, the apolipoprotein measurement value, the complement protein measurement value, the transthyretin measurement value, the gender and the age of the patient P, and the like are taken from an electronic chart system that is not illustrated.

[0090] The volume of the hippocampus is, for example, the total number of pixels of the anatomical region image 56_1 of the hippocampus. The volume of the hippocampus is an example of a "volume of the anatomical region" according to the technique of the present disclosure. In addition to or instead of the volume of the hippocampus, a volume of another anatomical region such as the amygdala may be included in the dementia-related information 111.

[0091] The HDS-R score, the MMSE score, the RBMT score, the CDR, the ADL, and the ADAS-Cog are an example of a "dementia test score" according to the technique of the present disclosure.

[0092] The genotype of the ApoE gene is a combination of two types among three types of ApoE genes of ε2, ε3, and ε4 (ε2 and ε3, ε3 and ε4, and the like). A risk of development of the Alzheimer's disease having a genotype including one or two ε4 (ε2 and ε4, ε4 and ε4, and the like) is approximately 3 times to 12 times a risk of development of the Alzheimer's disease having a genotype without ε4 (ε2 and ε3, ε3 and ε3, and the like). The genotype of the ApoE gene is converted into a numerical value. For example, a combination of ε2 and ε3 is converted into 1, and a combination of ε3 and ε3 is converted into 2. The numerical value is input to the dementia opinion derivation model 142. The genotype of the ApoE gene is an example of a "test result of a genetic test" according to the technique of the present disclosure.

[0093] The amyloid-β measurement value and the tau protein measurement value are an example of a "test result of a spinal fluid test" according to the technique of the present disclosure. In addition, the apolipoprotein measurement value, the complement protein measurement value, and the transthyretin measurement value are an example of a "test result of a blood test" according to the technique of the present disclosure.

[0094] Fig. 24 illustrates an example of an outline of processing in a learning phase of the dementia opinion derivation model 112. The dementia opinion derivation model 112 is trained by inputting learning data 118. The learning data 118 is a combination of the learning feature amount set group 59L, the learning dementia-related information 111L, and the correct dementia opinion information 113CA corresponding to the learning feature amount set group 59L and the learning dementia-related information 111L. The learning feature amount set group 59L is obtained by inputting the anatomical region image 56 of a certain head MRI image 15 to the feature amount derivation model 37. The learning dementia-related information 111L is information of the patient P whose the head MRI image 15 is imaged, the head MRI image 15 being an image from which the learning feature amount set group 59L is obtained. The correct dementia opinion information 113CA is a result obtained by actually diagnosing, by the doctor, the dementia opinion on the head MRI image 15 from which the learning feature amount set group 59L is obtained in consideration of the learning dementia-related information 111L.

[0095] In the learning phase, the learning feature amount set group 59L and the learning dementia-related information 111L are input to the dementia opinion derivation model 112. The dementia opinion derivation model 112 outputs the learning dementia opinion information 113L in response to the learning feature amount set group 59L and the learning dementia-related information 111L. A loss calculation of the dementia opinion derivation model 112 using a loss function is performed based on the learning dementia opinion information 113L and the correct dementia opinion information 113CA. In addition, update settings of various coefficients of the dementia opinion derivation model 112 are performed according to a result of the loss calculation, and the dementia opinion derivation model 112 is updated according to the update settings.

[0096] In the learning phase of the dementia opinion derivation model 112, while exchanging the learning data 118, a series of processing including inputting of the learning feature amount set group 59L and the learning dementia-related information 111L to the dementia opinion derivation model 112, outputting of the learning dementia opinion information 113L from the dementia opinion derivation model 112, the loss calculation, the update settings, and updating of the dementia opinion derivation model 112 is repeatedly performed. The repetition of the series of processing is ended in a case where prediction accuracy of the learning dementia opinion information 113L with respect to the correct dementia opinion information 113CA reaches a predetermined setting level. The dementia opinion derivation model 112 of which the prediction accuracy reaches the setting level in this way is stored in the storage 20, and is used as a trained dementia opinion derivation model in the dementia opinion derivation unit 110.

[0097] As illustrated in Fig. 25 as an example, the contribution derivation unit 120 according to the present embodiment generates first contribution information 121 based on the anatomical region image group 57, the feature amount set group 59, and the dementia opinion information 113, similarly to the first contribution information 61 according to the first embodiment, and outputs the generated first contribution information 121 to the display control unit 123. In addition, the contribution derivation unit 120 derives a second contribution representing a degree of contribution to the output of the dementia opinion information 113 based on the dementia-related information 111 and the dementia opinion information 113 for each item of the dementia-related information 111. The contribution derivation unit 120 derives, as a second contribution, for example, a numerical value in 10 steps from 1 to 10. The contribution derivation unit 120 outputs the second contribution information 122 in which the derived second contribution is summarized to the display control unit 123. In the second contribution information 122, the second contribution corresponding to each item of the dementia-related information 111 is registered. The second contribution information 122 is an example of a "derivation result of the second contribution" according to the technique of the present disclosure. For the derivation of the second contribution by the contribution derivation unit 120, for example, the method described in the following literature is used.
<Scott M. Lundberg, etc., Explainable machine-learning predictions for the prevention of hypoxaemia during surgery, Nature Biomedical Engineering volume 2, pages 749-760 (2018)>

[0098] As illustrated in Fig. 26 as an example, on the third display screen 130 according to the present embodiment, in addition to the head MRI image 15, the message 81 according to the dementia opinion information 60, the message 86 indicating the ranking of the first contribution and the anatomical region corresponding to the ranking, the anatomical region image 56, and the first contribution map 70, a list 131 of items of the dementia-related information 111 is displayed. Each item of the list 131 is displayed according to a level of the second contribution, as illustrated by shade of hatching. The display according to the level of the second contribution is, for example, display in which an item having a higher second contribution is displayed in a darker color and an item having a lower second contribution is displayed in a lighter color. Fig. 26 illustrates a case where the second contribution for each of the volume of the hippocampus, the HDS-R score, the genotype of the ApoE gene, and the like is relatively high and the second contribution for each of the MMSE score, the CDR, the ADL, the ADAS-Cog, and the like is relatively low. In a case where a confirmation button 132 is selected, the display control unit 123 turns off the display of the message 86, the anatomical region image 56, the first contribution map 70, and the list 131, and returns the third display screen 130 to the second display screen 80.

[0099] As described above, in the second embodiment, the dementia-related information 111 is input to the dementia opinion derivation model 112. The dementia-related information 111 includes the volume of the hippocampus, the HDS-R score, the MMSE score, the CDR, the ADL, the ADAS-Cog, the genotype of the ApoE gene, the amyloid-β measurement value, the tau protein measurement value, the apolipoprotein measurement value, the complement protein measurement value, the transthyretin measurement value, the gender and the age of the patient P, and the like. Pieces of powerful information useful for prediction such as various types of dementia-related information 111 related to dementia are added. Thus, as compared with the case where the dementia opinions are predicted by using only the feature amount set group 59, it is possible to dramatically improve the prediction accuracy of the dementia opinion.

[0100] In addition, as illustrated in Fig. 25, the contribution derivation unit 120 derives a second contribution representing a degree of contribution to the output of the dementia opinion information 113 for each item of the dementia-related information 111. In addition, as illustrated in Fig. 26, the display control unit 123 presents the derivation result of the second contribution for each item on the third display screen 130. Therefore, the doctor can recognize the degree of contribution of each item of the dementia-related information 111 to the output of the dementia opinion information 60. Thereby, the doctor can determine a plausibility of the dementia opinion information 60 with greater confidence.

[0101] The dementia-related information 111 may include at least one of a volume of the anatomical region, a score of a dementia test, a test result of a genetic test, a test result of a spinal fluid test, or a test result of a blood test. The dementia-related information 111 may include a medical history of the patient P, whether or not the patient P has a relative who develops dementia, and the like. In addition, as in the case of the first contribution, a history of the second contribution of each item may be stored, and the history may be reflected in the learning of the dementia opinion derivation model 112. Specifically, the item having a relatively low second contribution may be excluded from the learning dementia-related information 111L to be input to the dementia opinion derivation model 112.

[Third Embodiment]

[0102] In the third embodiment illustrated in Fig. 27 and Fig. 28, instead of the compression unit 91 of the AE 90, a compression unit 141 of a single-task convolutional neural network for class determination (hereinafter, abbreviated as a single-task CNN) 140 is used as a feature amount derivation model 145.

[0103] As illustrated in Fig. 27 as an example, the single-task CNN 140 includes a compression unit 141 and an output unit 142. The anatomical region image 56 is input to the compression unit 141. Similar to the compression unit 91, the compression unit 141 converts the anatomical region image 56 into a feature amount set 143. The compression unit 141 transmits the feature amount set 143 to the output unit 142. The output unit 142 outputs one class 144 based on the feature amount set 143. In Fig. 27, the output unit 142 outputs, as the class 144, a determination result indicating whether dementia is developed or not developed. The compression unit 141 of the single-task CNN 140 is used as the feature amount derivation model 145.

[0104] As illustrated in Fig. 28 as an example, the single-task CNN 140 is trained by inputting learning data 148 in a learning phase before the compression unit 141 is adapted as the feature amount derivation model 145. The learning data 148 is a set of the learning anatomical region image 56L and a correct class 144CA corresponding to the learning anatomical region image 56L. The correct class 144CA is a result obtained by actually determining, by the doctor, whether or not dementia is developed on the head MRI image 15 from which the learning anatomical region image 56L is obtained.

[0105] In the learning phase, the learning anatomical region image 56L is input to the single-task CNN 140. The single-task CNN 140 outputs a learning class 144L in response to the learning anatomical region image 56L. The loss calculation of the single-task CNN 140 is performed based on the learning class 144L and the correct class 144CA. In addition, update settings of various coefficients of the single-task CNN 140 are performed according to a result of the loss calculation, and the single-task CNN 140 is updated according to the update settings.

[0106] In the learning phase of the single-task CNN 140, while exchanging the learning data 148, a series of processing including inputting of the learning anatomical region image 56L to the single-task CNN 140, outputting of the learning class 144L from the single-task CNN 140, the loss calculation, the update settings, and updating of the single-task CNN 140 is repeatedly performed. The repetition of the series of processing is ended in a case where prediction accuracy of the learning class 144L with respect to the correct class 144CA reaches a predetermined setting level. The compression unit 141 of the single-task CNN 140 of which the prediction accuracy reaches the setting level is stored in the storage 20 as the trained feature amount derivation model 145, and is used in the feature amount derivation unit 48.

[0107] As described above, in the third embodiment, the compression unit 141 of the single-task CNN 140 is used as the feature amount derivation model 145. The single-task CNN 140 is also one of neural network models which are frequently used in the field of machine learning, and is generally very well known. Therefore, the compression unit 141 of the single-task CNN 140 can be relatively easily adapted as the feature amount derivation model 145.

[0108] The class 144 may include, for example, content indicating that the patient P is younger than 75 years old or content indicating that the patient P is 75 years old or older, or may include an age group of the patient P such as 60's and 70's.

[Fourth Embodiment]

[0109] In the fourth embodiment illustrated in Fig. 29 and Fig. 30, instead of the compression unit 91 of the AE 90 and the compression unit 141 of the single-task CNN 140, a compression unit 151 of a multi-task class determination CNN (hereinafter, abbreviated as a multi-task CNN) 150 is used as a feature amount derivation model 156.

[0110] As illustrated in Fig. 29 as an example, the multi-task CNN 150 includes a compression unit 151 and an output unit 152. The anatomical region image 56 is input to the compression unit 151. The compression unit 151 converts the anatomical region image 56 into a feature amount set 153 in the same manner as the compression unit 91 and the compression unit 141. The compression unit 151 transmits the feature amount set 153 to the output unit 152. The output unit 152 outputs two classes of a first class 154 and a second class 155 based on the feature amount set 153. In Fig. 29, the output unit 152 outputs, as the first class 154, a determination result indicating whether dementia is developed or not developed. Further, in Fig. 29, the output unit 152 outputs, as the second class 155, the age of the patient P. The compression unit 151 of the multi-task CNN 150 is used as a feature amount derivation model 156.

[0111] As illustrated in Fig. 30 as an example, the multi-task CNN 150 is trained by inputting learning data 158 in a learning phase before the compression unit 151 is adapted as the feature amount derivation model 156. The learning data 158 is a set of the learning anatomical region image 56L and a correct first class 154CA and a correct second class 155CA corresponding to the learning anatomical region image 56L. The correct first class 154CA is a result obtained by actually determining, by the doctor, whether or not dementia is developed on the head MRI image 15 from which the learning anatomical region image 56L is obtained. In addition, the correct second class 155CA is the actual age of the patient P whose the head MRI image 15 is imaged, the head MRI image 15 being an image from which the learning anatomical region image 56L is obtained.

[0112] In the learning phase, the learning anatomical region image 56L is input to the multi-task CNN 150. The multi-task CNN 150 outputs a learning first class 154L and a learning second class 155L in response to the learning anatomical region image 56L. The loss calculation of the multi-task CNN 150 is performed based on the learning first class 154L and the learning second class 155L, and the correct first class 154CA and the correct second class 155CA. In addition, update settings of various coefficients of the multi-task CNN 150 are performed according to a result of the loss calculation, and the multi-task CNN 150 is updated according to the update settings.

[0113] In the learning phase of the multi-task CNN 150, while exchanging the learning data 158, a series of processing including inputting of the learning anatomical region image 56L to the multi-task CNN 150, outputting of the learning first class 154L and the learning second class 155L from the multi-task CNN 150, the loss calculation, the update settings, and updating of the multi-task CNN 150 is repeatedly performed. The repetition of the series of processing is ended in a case where prediction accuracy of the learning first class 154L and the learning second class 155L with respect to the correct first class 154CA and the correct second class 155CA reaches a predetermined setting level. The compression unit 151 of the multi-task CNN 150 of which the prediction accuracy reaches the setting level is stored in the storage 20 as the trained feature amount derivation model 156, and is used in the feature amount derivation unit 48.

[0114] As described above, in the fourth embodiment, the compression unit 151 of the multi-task CNN 150 is used as the feature amount derivation model 156. The multi-task CNN 150 performs more complicated processing of outputting a plurality of classes (the first class 154 and the second class 155) as compared with the AE 90 and the single-task CNN 140. For this reason, there is a high possibility that the feature amount set 153 output from the compression unit 151 more comprehensively represents a feature of the anatomical region image 56. Therefore, as a result, it is possible to further improve the prediction accuracy of the dementia opinion by the dementia opinion derivation model 39.

[0115] The first class 154 may be, for example, a degree of progression of dementia in five levels. In addition, the second class 155 may be a determination result of the age group of the patient P. The multi-task CNN 150 may output three or more classes.

[Fifth Embodiment]

[0116] In the fifth embodiment illustrated in Fig. 31, the anatomical region image 56 of one anatomical region is input to a plurality of different feature amount derivation models.

[0117] In Fig. 31, the feature amount derivation unit 160 according to the present embodiment inputs the anatomical region image 56 of one anatomical region to a first feature amount derivation model 161, a second feature amount derivation model 162, and a third feature amount derivation model 163. Thereby, the feature amount derivation unit 160 outputs a first feature amount set 164 from the first feature amount derivation model 161, outputs a second feature amount set 165 from the second feature amount derivation model 162, and outputs a third feature amount set 166 from the third feature amount derivation model 163. The first feature amount derivation model 161 is obtained by adapting the compression unit 91 of the AE 90 according to the first embodiment. The second feature amount derivation model 162 is obtained by adapting the compression unit 141 of the single-task CNN 140 according to the third embodiment. The third feature amount derivation model 163 is obtained by adapting the compression unit 151 of the multi-task CNN 150 according to the fourth embodiment.

[0118] As described above, in the fifth embodiment, the feature amount derivation unit 160 inputs the anatomical region image 56 of one anatomical region to the first feature amount derivation model 161, the second feature amount derivation model 162, and the third feature amount derivation model 163. In addition, the first feature amount set 164, the second feature amount set 165, and the third feature amount set 166 are output from each of the models 161 to 163. Therefore, a wide variety of feature amounts Z can be obtained as compared with a case where one kind of feature amount derivation model 37 is used. As a result, it is possible to further improve the prediction accuracy of the dementia opinion by the dementia opinion derivation model 39.

[0119] The plurality of different feature amount derivation models may be, for example, a combination of the first feature amount derivation model 161 obtained by adapting the compression unit 91 of the AE 90 and the second feature amount derivation model 162 obtained by adapting the compression unit 141 of the single-task CNN 140. Alternatively, a combination of the second feature amount derivation model 162 obtained by adapting the compression unit 141 of the single-task CNN 140 and the third feature amount derivation model 163 obtained by adapting the compression unit 151 of the multi-task CNN 150 may be used. Further, a combination of the second feature amount derivation model 162, which outputs whether or not dementia is developed as the class 144 and is obtained by adapting the compression unit 141 of the single-task CNN 140, and the second feature amount derivation model 162, which outputs the age group of the patient P as the class 144 and is obtained by adapting the compression unit 141 of the single-task CNN 140, may be used.

[Sixth Embodiment]

[0120] In the sixth embodiment illustrated in Fig. 32 to Fig. 37, a model obtained by combining the AE 250 and the single-task CNN 251 is used as a feature amount derivation model 252.

[0121] As illustrated in Fig. 32 as an example, the AE 250 includes a compression unit 253 and a restoration unit 254, similar to the AE 90 according to the first embodiment. The anatomical region image 56 is input to the compression unit 253. The compression unit 253 converts the anatomical region image 56 into the feature amount set 255. The compression unit 253 transmits the feature amount set 255 to the restoration unit 254. The restoration unit 254 generates a restoration image 256 of the anatomical region image 56 from the feature amount set 255.

[0122] The single-task CNN 251 includes a compression unit 253 and an output unit 257, similar to the single-task CNN 140 according to the third embodiment. That is, the compression unit 253 is shared by the AE 250 and the single-task CNN 251. The compression unit 253 transmits the feature amount set 255 to the output unit 257. The output unit 257 outputs one class 258 based on the feature amount set 255. In Fig. 32, the output unit 257 outputs, as the class 258, a determination result indicating that the patient P with mild cognitive impairment remains a state of mild cognitive impairment after 2 years or progresses to Alzheimer's disease after 2 years. In addition, the output unit 257 outputs aggregated feature amounts ZA obtained by aggregating the plurality of feature amounts Z included in the feature amount set 255. The aggregated feature amounts ZA are output for each of the anatomical regions. In the present embodiment, the aggregated feature amounts ZA are input to the dementia opinion derivation model 282 (refer to Fig. 36) instead of the feature amount set 255.

[0123] As illustrated in Fig. 33 as an example, the output unit 257 includes a self-attention (hereinafter, abbreviated as SA) mechanism layer 265, a global average pooling (hereinafter, abbreviated as GAP) layer 266, a fully connected (hereinafter, abbreviated as FC) layer 267, a softmax function (hereinafter, abbreviated as SMF) layer 268, and a principal component analysis (hereinafter, abbreviated as PCA) layer 269.

[0124] The SA mechanism layer 265 performs convolution processing illustrated in Fig. 14 on the feature amount set 255 while changing the coefficients of the filter 203 according to the element value of the element of interest 2011. Hereinafter, the convolution processing performed by the SA mechanism layer 265 is referred to as SA convolution processing. The SA mechanism layer 265 outputs the feature amount set 255 after the SA convolution processing to the GAP layer 266.

[0125] The GAP layer 266 performs global average pooling processing on the feature amount set 255 after the SA convolution processing. The global average pooling processing is processing of obtaining average values of the feature amounts Z for each channel (refer to Fig. 15) of the feature amount set 255. For example, in a case where the number of channels of the feature amount set 255 is 512, average values of 512 feature amounts Z are obtained by the global average pooling processing. The GAP layer 266 outputs the obtained average values of the feature amounts Z to the FC layer 267 and the PCA layer 269.

[0126] The FC layer 267 converts the average values of the feature amounts Z into variables handled by the SMF of the SMF layer 268. The FC layer 267 includes an input layer including units corresponding to the number of the average values of the feature amounts Z (that is, the number of channels of the feature amount set 255) and an output layer including units corresponding to the number of variables handled by the SMF. Each unit of the input layer and each unit of the output layer are fully coupled to each other, and weights are set for each unit. The average values of the feature amounts Z are input to each unit of the input layer. The product sum of the average value of the feature amounts Z and the weight which is set for each unit is an output value of each unit of the output layer. The output value is a variable handled by the SMF. The FC layer 267 outputs the variable handled by the SMF to the SMF layer 268. The SMF layer 268 outputs the class 258 by applying the variable to the SMF.

[0127] The PCA layer 269 performs PCA on the average values of the feature amounts Z, and aggregates the average values of the plurality of feature amounts Z into aggregated feature amounts ZA of which the number is smaller than the number of the average values. For example, the PCA layer 269 aggregates the average values of 512 feature amounts Z into one aggregated feature amount ZA.

[0128] As illustrated in Fig. 34 as an example, the AE 250 is trained by inputting learning anatomical region images 56L in a learning phase. The AE 250 outputs learning restoration images 256L in response to the learning anatomical region images 56L. Loss calculation of the AE 250 using a loss function is performed based on the learning anatomical region images 56L and the learning restoration images 256L. In addition, update settings of various coefficients of the AE 250 are performed according to a result of the loss calculation (hereinafter, referred to as a loss L1), and the AE 250 is updated according to the update settings.

[0129] In the learning phase of the AE 250, while exchanging the learning anatomical region images 56L, a series of processing including inputting of the learning anatomical region images 56L to the AE 250, outputting of the learning restoration images 256L from the AE 250, the loss calculation, the update settings, and updating of the AE 250 is repeatedly performed.

[0130] The single-task CNN 251 is trained by inputting learning data 275 in a learning phase. The learning data 275 is a set of the learning anatomical region image 56L and a correct class 258CA corresponding to the learning anatomical region image 56L. The correct class 258CA indicates that the patient P whose the head MRI image 15 is imaged and who has mild cognitive impairment remains a state of mild cognitive impairment after 2 years or progresses to Alzheimer's disease after 2 years, the head MRI image 15 being an image from which the learning anatomical region image 56L is obtained.

[0131] In the learning phase, the learning anatomical region image 56L is input to the single-task CNN 251. The single-task CNN 251 outputs a learning class 258L in response to the learning anatomical region image 56L. The loss calculation of the single-task CNN 251 using a cross-entropy function or the like is performed based on the learning class 258L and the correct class 258CA. In addition, update settings of various coefficients of the single-task CNN 251 are performed according to a result of the loss calculation (hereinafter, referred to as a loss L2), and the single-task CNN 251 is updated according to the update settings.

[0132] In the learning phase of the single-task CNN 251, while exchanging the learning data 275, a series of processing including inputting of the learning anatomical region image 56L to the single-task CNN 251, outputting of the learning class 258L from the single-task CNN 251, the loss calculation, the update settings, and updating of the single-task CNN 251 is repeatedly performed.

[0133] The update setting of the AE 250 and the update setting of the single-task CNN 251 are performed based on a total loss L represented by the following equation (2). α is a weight.

[0134] That is, the total loss L is a weighted sum of the loss L1 of the AE 250 and the loss L2 of the single-task CNN 251.

[0135] As illustrated in Fig. 35 as an example, the weight α is set to 1 in an initial stage of the learning phase. Assuming that the weight α is 1, the total loss L is represented by L = L1. Therefore, in this case, only the learning of the AE 250 is performed, and the learning of the single-task CNN 251 is not performed.

[0136] The weight α is gradually decreased from 1 as the learning is progressed, and is eventually set as a fixed value (0.8 in Fig. 35). In this case, the learning of the AE 250 and the learning of the single-task CNN 251 are both performed with intensity corresponding to the weight α. As described above, the weight given to the loss L1 is larger than the weight given to the loss L2. Further, the weight given to the loss L1 is gradually decreased from a maximum value of 1, and the weight given to the loss L2 is gradually increased from a minimum value of 0. Both the weight given to the loss L1 and the weight given to the loss L2 are set as fixed values.

[0137] The learning of the AE 250 and the single-task CNN 251 is ended in a case where accuracy of restoration from the learning anatomical region image 56L to the learning restoration image 256L by the AE 250 reaches a predetermined setting level and where prediction accuracy of the learning class 258L with respect to the correct class 258CA by the single-task CNN 251 reaches a predetermined setting level. The AE 250 of which the restoration accuracy reaches the setting level in this way and the single-task CNN 251 of which the prediction accuracy reaches the setting level in this way are stored in the storage 20, and are used as the trained feature amount derivation model 252.

[0138] As illustrated in Fig. 36 as an example, the dementia opinion derivation unit 280 according to the present embodiment inputs an aggregated feature amount group ZAG and the dementia-related information 281 to the dementia opinion derivation model 282. The aggregated feature amount group ZAG includes a plurality of aggregated feature amounts ZA which are output for each of the anatomical regions. Similar to the dementia-related information 111 according to the second embodiment, the dementia-related information 281 includes a gender and an age of the patient P for diagnosing dementia, a volume of the anatomical region, a score of a dementia test, a test result of a genetic test, a test result of a spinal fluid test, a test result of a blood test, and the like.

[0139] The dementia opinion derivation model 282 includes a quantile normalization unit 283 and a linear discriminant analysis unit 284. The aggregated feature amount group ZAG and the dementia-related information 281 are input to the quantile normalization unit 283. The quantile normalization unit 283 performs quantile normalization of converting the plurality of aggregated feature amounts ZA included in the aggregated feature amount group ZAG and each of parameters of the dementia-related information 281 into data according to a normal distribution, in order to handle the plurality of aggregated feature amounts ZA and the parameters in the same sequence. The linear discriminant analysis unit 284 performs linear discriminant analysis on the aggregated feature amounts ZA and each of the parameters of the dementia-related information 281 after the quantile normalization processing, and outputs dementia opinion information 285 as a result of the linear discriminant analysis. The dementia opinion information 285 indicates that the patient P with mild cognitive impairment remains a state of mild cognitive impairment after 2 years or progresses to Alzheimer's disease after 2 years. The learning of the dementia opinion derivation model 282 is the same as the learning of the dementia opinion derivation model 112 illustrated in Fig. 24, except that the learning feature amount set group 59L is changed to the learning aggregated feature amount group ZAG Thus, illustration and description thereof will be omitted.

[0140] As described above, in the sixth embodiment, the single-task CNN 251 that performs a main task such as outputting of the class 258 and the AE 250 that is partially common to the single-task CNN 251 and performs a sub-task such as generation of the restoration image 256 are used as the feature amount derivation model 252, the sub-task being a task having a more general purpose as compared with the main task. In addition, the AE 250 and the single-task CNN 251 are trained at the same time. Therefore, as compared with a case where the AE 250 and the single-task CNN 251 are separate, the feature amount set 255 that is more appropriate and the aggregated feature amounts ZA that are more appropriate can be output. As a result, it is possible to improve the prediction accuracy of the dementia opinion information 285.

[0141] In the learning phase, the update setting is performed based on the total loss L, which is a weighted sum of the loss L1 of the AE 250 and the loss L2 of the single-task CNN 251. Therefore, by setting the weight α to an appropriate value, the AE 250 can be intensively trained, the single-task CNN 251 can be intensively trained, or the AE 250 and the single-task CNN 251 can be trained in a well-balanced manner.

[0142] The weight given to the loss L1 is larger than the weight given to the loss L2. Therefore, the AE 250 can always be intensively trained. In a case where the AE 250 is always intensively trained, the feature amount set 255 that more represents the shape of the anatomical region and the feature of the texture can be output from the compression unit 253. As a result, the aggregated feature amounts ZA having a higher plausibility can be output from the output unit 257.

[0143] Further, the weight given to the loss L1 is gradually decreased from the maximum value, and the weight given to the loss L2 is gradually increased from the minimum value. After the learning is performed a predetermined number of times, both the weight given to the loss L1 and the weight given to the loss L2 are set as fixed values. Thus, the AE 250 can be more intensively trained in an initial stage of the learning. The AE 250 is responsible for a relatively simple sub-task such as generation of the restoration image 256. Therefore, in a case where the AE 250 is more intensively trained in the initial stage of the learning, the feature amount set 255 that more represents the shape of the anatomical region and the feature of the texture can be output from the compression unit 253 in the initial stage of the learning.

[0144] As an example, a table 300 illustrated in Fig. 37 shows performance comparison between Nos. 1 to 7 and Nos. 8 and 9, Nos. 1 to 7 being described in the following literatures A, B, C, D, E, F, and G and being related to a method of predicting progress of dementia, and Nos. 8 and 9 being related to a method of predicting progress of dementia according to the present embodiment. In the method of predicting progress of dementia according to the present embodiment, No. 8 indicates a case where only the aggregated feature amount group ZAG is input to the dementia opinion derivation model 282 and the dementia-related information 281 is not input. On the other hand, No. 9 indicates a case where the aggregated feature amount group ZAG and the dementia-related information 281 are input to the dementia opinion derivation model 282.

[0145] Literature A <Tam, A., Dansereau, C., Iturria-Medina, Y, Urchs, S., Orban, P., Sharmarke, H., Breitner, J., & Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative., "A highly predictive signature of cognition and brain atrophy for progression to Alzheimer's dementia.", GigaScience, 8 (5), giz055 (2019).>

[0146] Literature B <Ledig, C., Schuh, A., Guerrero, R., Heckemann, R. A., & Rueckert, D., "Structural brain imaging in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment: biomarker analysis and shared morphometry database.", Scientific reports, 8 (1), 11258 (2018).>

[0147] Literature C <Lu, D., Popuri, K., Ding, G W., Balachandar, R., & Beg, M. F., "Multimodal and multiscale deep neural networks for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease using structural MR and FDG-PET images", Scientific reports, 8 (1), 5697 (2018).>

[0148] Literature D <Basaia, S., Agosta, F., Wagner, L., Canu, E., Magnani, G, Santangelo, R., Filippi, M., Automated classification of Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment using a single MRI and deep neural networks, NeuroImage: Clinical 21, 101645 (2019).>

[0149] Literature E <Nakagawa, T., Ishida, M., Naito, J., Nagai, A., Yamaguchi, S., Onoda, K., "Prediction of conversion to Alzheimer's disease using deep survival analysis of MRI images", Brain Communications, Vol. 2 (1) (2020).>

[0150] Literature F <Lee, G, Nho, K., Kang, B., Sohn, K. A., & Kim, D., "Predicting Alzheimer's disease progression using multi-modal deep learning approach.", Scientific reports, 9 (1), 1952 (2019).>

[0151] Literature G <Goto, T., Wang, C., Li, Y, Tsuboshita, Y, Multi-modal deep learning for predicting progression of Alzheimer's disease using bi-linear shake fusion, Proc. SPIE 11314, Medical Imaging (2020).>

[0152] The accuracy of No. 8 and the accuracy of No. 9 are 0.84 and 0.90. In particular, the accuracy of No. 9 is 0.90 and is higher than the accuracy of any one of Nos. 1 to 7. An area under the curve (AUC) of No. 8 and an area under the curve (AUC) of No. 9 are 0.93 and 0.97. These values are larger than a value in No. 5 that is related to a method of predicting progress of dementia and is described in Literature E. Therefore, it can be said that the method of predicting progress of dementia according to the present embodiment can predict progress of dementia with higher accuracy as compared with the methods of predicting progress of dementia in the related art that are described in Literatures A to G

[0153] A sensitivity of No. 8 and a sensitivity of No. 9 are 0.85 and 0.91. These values are higher than sensitivities in Nos. 1 to 7. In particular, the sensitivity of No. 9 is 0.91, and is a maximum value among the sensitivities. Therefore, it can be said that the method of predicting progress of dementia according to the present embodiment can predict that the patient P with mild cognitive impairment will progress to Alzheimer's disease after a prediction period without overlooking the progress as compared with the methods of predicting progress of dementia in the related art that are described in Literatures A to G

[0154] A specificity of No. 8 and a specificity of No. 9 are 0.84 and 0.90. These values are smaller than 0.97 in No. 1 related to the method of predicting progress of dementia that is described in Literature A, but are larger than values in other Literatures B, C, D, and F. Therefore, it can be said that the method of predicting progress of dementia according to the present embodiment can more accurately predict that the patient P with mild cognitive impairment remains a state of mild cognitive impairment even after a prediction period as compared with many other methods of predicting progress of dementia in the related art.

[0155] In the table 300, ADNI in the items of the learning image is an abbreviation of "Alzheimer's disease Neuroimaging Initiative". AIBL is an abbreviation of "Australian Imaging Biomarkers and Lifestyle Study of Ageing". J-ADNI is an abbreviation of "Japanese Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Intiative". The items indicate a database in which head MRI images 15 and the like of patients P with Alzheimer's disease are accumulated.

[0156] Instead of the single-task CNN 251, the multi-task CNN 150 according to the fourth embodiment may be used.

[0157] The learning of the AE 90 illustrated in Fig. 17, the learning of the dementia opinion derivation model 39 illustrated in Fig. 18, the learning of the dementia opinion derivation model 112 illustrated in Fig. 24, the learning of the single-task CNN 140 illustrated in Fig. 28, the learning of the multi-task CNN 150 illustrated in Fig. 30, the learning of the AE 250 and the single-task CNN 251 illustrated in Fig. 34, and the like may be performed by the diagnosis support device 12 or by a device other than the diagnosis support device 12. In addition, the learning may be continuously performed after storing each model in the storage 20 of the diagnosis support device 12.

[0158] The PACS server 11 may function as the diagnosis support device 12.

[0159] The medical image is not limited to the head MRI image 15 in the example. The medical image may be a positron emission tomography (PET) image, a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) image, a computed tomography (CT) image, an endoscopic image, an ultrasound image, or the like.

[0160] The organ is not limited to the illustrated brain, and may be a heart, a lung, a liver, or the like. In a case of a lung, right lungs S1 and S2 and left lungs S1 and S2 are extracted as the anatomical regions. In a case of a liver, a right lobe, a left lobe, a gall bladder, and the like are extracted as the anatomical regions. In addition, the disease is not limited to dementia in the example, and may be a heart disease, pneumonia, dyshepatia, or the like.

[0161] In each of the embodiments, for example, as a hardware structure of the processing unit that executes various processing, such as the RW control unit 45, the normalization unit 46, the extraction unit 47, the feature amount derivation units 48 and 160, the dementia opinion derivation units 49, 110, and 280, the contribution derivation units 50 and 120, and the display control units 51 and 123, the following various processors may be used. The various processors include, as described above, the CPU 22 which is a general-purpose processor that functions as various processing units by executing software (an operation program 30), a programmable logic device (PLD) such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) which is a processor capable of changing a circuit configuration after manufacture, a dedicated electric circuit such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which is a processor having a circuit configuration specifically designed to execute specific processing, and the like.

[0162] One processing unit may be configured by one of these various processors, or may be configured by a combination of two or more processors having the same type or different types (for example, a combination of a plurality of FPGAs and/or a combination of a CPU and an FPGA). Further, the plurality of processing units may be configured by one processor.

[0163] As an example in which the plurality of processing units are configured by one processor, firstly, as represented by a computer such as a client and a server, a form in which one processor is configured by a combination of one or more CPUs and software and the processor functions as the plurality of processing units may be adopted. Secondly, as represented by system on chip (SoC), there is a form in which a processor that realizes the functions of the entire system including a plurality of processing units with one integrated circuit (IC) chip is used. As described above, the various processing units are configured by using one or more various processors as a hardware structure.

[0164] Further, as the hardware structure of the various processors, more specifically, an electric circuit (circuitry) in which circuit elements such as semiconductor elements are combined may be used.

[0165] The technique of the present disclosure can also appropriately combine the various embodiments and/or the various modification examples. In addition, the technique of the present disclosure is not limited to each embodiment, and various configurations may be adopted without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Further, the technique of the present disclosure extends to a program and a storage medium for non-temporarily storing the program.

[0166] The described contents and the illustrated contents are detailed explanations of a part according to the technique of the present disclosure, and are merely examples of the technique of the present disclosure. For example, the descriptions related to the configuration, the function, the operation, and the effect are descriptions related to examples of a configuration, a function, an operation, and an effect of a part according to the technique of the present disclosure. Therefore, it goes without saying that, in the described contents and illustrated contents, unnecessary parts may be deleted, new components may be added, or replacements may be made without departing from the spirit of the technique of the present disclosure. Further, in order to avoid complications and facilitate understanding of the part according to the technique of the present disclosure, in the described contents and illustrated contents, descriptions of technical knowledge and the like that do not require particular explanations to enable implementation of the technique of the present disclosure are omitted.

[0167] In this specification, "A and/or B" is synonymous with "at least one of A or B". That is, "A and/or B" means that only A may be included, that only B may be included, or that a combination of A and B may be included. Further, in this specification, even in a case where three or more matters are expressed by being connected using "and/or", the same concept as "A and/or B" is applied.

[0168] All documents, patent applications, and technical standards mentioned in this specification are incorporated herein by reference to the same extent as in a case where each document, each patent application, and each technical standard are specifically and individually described by being incorporated by reference.

Claims

1. A diagnosis support device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory connected to or built in the processor,

wherein the processor is configured to:

acquire a medical image;

extract a plurality of anatomical regions of an organ from the medical image;

input images of the plurality of anatomical regions to a plurality of feature amount derivation models prepared for each of the plurality of anatomical regions, and output a plurality of feature amounts for each of the plurality of anatomical regions from the feature amount derivation models;

input the plurality of feature amounts which are output for each of the plurality of anatomical regions to a disease opinion derivation model, and output a disease opinion from the disease opinion derivation model;

derive a first contribution which represents a degree of contribution to output of the opinion for each of the anatomical regions; and

present the opinion and a derivation result of the first contribution for each of the anatomical regions.

2. The diagnosis support device according to claim 1,
wherein the processor is configured to:
present the derivation result in descending order of the first contribution.

3. The diagnosis support device according to claim 1 or 2,
wherein the processor is configured to: input disease-related information related to the disease to the disease opinion derivation model in addition to the plurality of feature amounts.

4. The diagnosis support device according to claim 3,
wherein the disease-related information includes a plurality of items, and
the processor is configured to:

derive a second contribution which represents a degree of contribution to output of the opinion for each of the items; and

present a derivation result of the second contribution for each of the items.

5. The diagnosis support device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
wherein the feature amount derivation model includes at least one of an auto-encoder, a single-task convolutional neural network for class determination, or a multi-task convolutional neural network for class determination.

6. The diagnosis support device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
the processor is configured to:
input an image of one anatomical region of the anatomical regions to the plurality of different feature amount derivation models, and output the feature amounts from each of the plurality of feature amount derivation models.

7. The diagnosis support device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
wherein the disease opinion derivation model is configured by any one method of a neural network, a support vector machine, or boosting.

8. The diagnosis support device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
the processor is configured to:
perform normalization processing of matching the acquired medical image with a reference medical image prior to extraction of the anatomical regions.

9. The diagnosis support device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
wherein the organ is a brain and the disease is dementia.

10. The diagnosis support device according to claim 9,
wherein the plurality of anatomical regions include at least one of a hippocampus or a temporal lobe.

11. The diagnosis support device according to claim 9 or 10 citing claim 3 or 4,
wherein the disease-related information includes at least one of a volume of the anatomical region, a score of a dementia test, a test result of a genetic test, a test result of a spinal fluid test, or a test result of a blood test.

12. An operation method of a diagnosis support device, the method comprising:

acquiring a medical image;

extracting a plurality of anatomical regions of an organ from the medical image;

inputting images of the plurality of anatomical regions to a plurality of feature amount derivation models prepared for each of the plurality of anatomical regions, and outputting a plurality of feature amounts for each of the plurality of anatomical regions from the feature amount derivation models;

inputting the plurality of feature amounts which are output for each of the plurality of anatomical regions to a disease opinion derivation model, and outputting a disease opinion from the disease opinion derivation model;

deriving a first contribution which represents a degree of contribution to output of the opinion for each of the anatomical regions; and

presenting the opinion and a derivation result of the first contribution for each of the anatomical regions.

13. An operation program of a diagnosis support device, the program causing a computer to execute a process comprising:

acquiring a medical image;

extracting a plurality of anatomical regions of an organ from the medical image;

inputting images of the plurality of anatomical regions to a plurality of feature amount derivation models prepared for each of the plurality of anatomical regions, and outputting a plurality of feature amounts for each of the plurality of anatomical regions from the feature amount derivation models;

inputting the plurality of feature amounts which are output for each of the plurality of anatomical regions to a disease opinion derivation model, and outputting a disease opinion from the disease opinion derivation model;

deriving a first contribution which represents a degree of contribution to output of the opinion for each of the anatomical regions; and

presenting the opinion and a derivation result of the first contribution for each of the anatomical regions.

14. A dementia diagnosis support method causing a computer that includes a processor and a memory connected to or built in the processor to execute a process comprising:

acquiring a medical image in which a brain appears;

extracting a plurality of anatomical regions of the brain from the medical image;

inputting images of the plurality of anatomical regions to a plurality of feature amount derivation models prepared for each of the plurality of anatomical regions, and outputting a plurality of feature amounts for each of the plurality of anatomical regions from the feature amount derivation models;

inputting the plurality of feature amounts which are output for each of the plurality of anatomical regions to a dementia opinion derivation model, and outputting a dementia opinion from the dementia opinion derivation model;

deriving a first contribution which represents a degree of contribution to output of the opinion for each of the anatomical regions; and

presenting the opinion and a derivation result of the first contribution for each of the anatomical regions.

Drawing